Officers Shocked When They See What Walks Into Homeless Shelter

By: Mackenzie Wright | September 6, 2017

Police officers are there to protect and serve, so one desperate woman took a chance on her local police department. That gamble paid off for her. The homeless mother with four small children walked into a police station in Chicago, Illinois and cried for help because the family had nowhere to sleep and no belongings. The officers just couldn't turn the family away without helping to secure some shelter for them.

The family, who came from South Dakota, had been homeless and wandering for two days with nowhere to go. The mother of the family was at a loss for where to go. She lost contact with her family and had two young sets of twins - four children in total.

"I walk into the station and I saw a single parent crying, a single mother crying with her four children," Officers Matthew Jackson said to ABC 7 Chicago news.

Jackson and fellow Officer Howard Ray were working at the 11th District Police Station that day when the down-and-out family came in. Their hearts went out to the desperate woman and children, and the officers began trying to find a shelter for them.

After many phone calls and an exhaustive search, the law enforcement officers had no luck finding space at any shelters for the family. They weren’t about to turn the woman and children away, though. They tried to come up with another idea.

At that point, the officers shifted gears and tried to help the homeless mother locate her own family. She told police she’d lost track of them over time, though she knew her mother was somewhere in the city. They managed to find her mother, Patricia Tillman.

The grandmother was happy to be reunited with her daughter and thrilled about her four grandchildren. She was able to take them in and give them shelter, but Tillman herself was also struggling to make ends meet. The grandmother didn't have anything to provide for the kids—no clothes, no shoes, no beds or extra food. She didn’t know what she was going to do with 5 new family members depending on her.

The officers weren’t going to let the family down yet. They were happy to lend a hand. They collected food, clothing and supplies for the family so the kids could get comfortable in their new home.

"When we put the clothes on the table, and the toys, they were jumping everywhere. Like jumping jacks, they were jumping everywhere. The little girl recognized me and she was saying, 'Officer Ray! Officer Ray!'" Ray said.

The officers have asked local churches and community organizations to help spread the word for more donations to go to the homeless mother and kids. They're asking donations be brought to the 11th District Police Station in East Garfield Park.

Tillman is incredibly touched by the dedication of the officers. "I'm so grateful that they helped me, showed their love and caring."